A package greeted me at the door today after work. Surprisingly it was the Northwest 25D model I had ordered. I figured we would receive them after the Toy Truck'n Construction show.

Check out some photos:

The Box Front


Rear of the box. Nice touch with the history.


In the packaging


Removed from the packaging with all strings put back on the shieves. First thing one may notice is the missing fairlead for the drag cable. Next take a look at the bucket's rigging. The dump string approaching the bucket from the front is tied in a knot around the arch This makes dumping the bucket impossible without cutting (it's glued) and re-stringing the dump cable.

Next take a look inside the cab. These are the only 2 locations for a key to control the string... for a 3-string function model. On a Northwest the 2 main drums are side-by-side. SpecCast took a shortcut on the model and made the drums 1 single plastic piece, so 2 functions are controlled at once. Instead of the 2 functions being hoist and drag like on the actual machine, the functions are boom hoist(!) and drag. So as you drag in the bucket, the boom raises, and vice versa when paying out the bucket. The smaller other drum that should normally control boom hoist instead controls the bucket hoist for the model.


Front of the model. The 2 main drums are 1 single piece.


Great details on the inside of the cab with the sliding door opened.


Nice logo on the counterweight.


Next to the Smith Northwest 95 pullshovel


The Northwest model family.

The entire gallery can be found here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/40369611@N02/sets/72157621945283119/


So aside from a very detailed and nice-looking model, it has some serious rigging flaws. Is this the cable-excavator equivalent of a Norscot 320C? I think so!

I wonder if I can get my money back from SpecCast? Who am I kidding though, I'll complain about it, but still keep it displayed on my shelf.

I am looking forward to the Toy Truck'n Construction show to give SpecCast my input on the model, for what it's worth. I wonder how many people will be able to enjoy the model for it's dysfunctional functioning.


- Alex

Thanks, Art! My pickup is orange as well -- I wonder if there's a pattern developing.

- Alex

Gee, I was all ready to extoll the virtues of Specast models until I started reading your post! I still think they are a good deal for the price - my White trucks have their shortcomings also, but where else are you going to get older stuff?

I agree with you Alex. I recieved mine yesterday too. I was hoping they would have corrected some of the short comings for the increase in price over the Schield-Bantam ($69.00), like add the fairlead. But I am really disappointed in the rigging!! I will add the fairlead and the "Northwest" name tags on the boom (they have them on the new pull-shovel & shovel models for this winter) but I am still wondering how do I cut the cable drums in half and and drive the second one. I will also move the operators seat forward so "he" can reach the controls. They put nice detail of an engine and drive componets, but was wasted in that you can't see them without the sliding rear opening. I would have made that non-operating in the "open" position, if nothing else, myself.
I like your collection of Northwest. Nice to see I'm not the only one with NW. Your Smith 95 is great, same as the CCM 190D, I have neither. Thank you for posting the pictures. Dan

The CCM model's tracks do indeed articulate. The Smith model is the only one with 1-piece tracks.